By our Correspondent
Reliable sources have it that Ethiopia aims to eliminate cholera by 2028 while the world health assembly is set to eliminate cholera by 2030.
In fact, the Roadmap 2030 is a new global strategy to reduce cholera deaths and stop cholera transmission with the support of Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC).
Significantly, it aims to achieve a 90 percent reduction in cholera deaths through the mobilization of cholera-affected countries.
However, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute deliberated at a high-level consultative and advocacy workshop on Ethiopia’s national cholera control plan.
And in her opening remark, Lia Tadesse the Health Minister said, cholera disproportionately affects the poorest and most vulnerable countries, affecting at least 47 countries worldwide, with an estimated 1.3 to 4 million cases and 21,000 to 143,000 deaths annually worldwide.
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She explained that several cholera outbreaks occurred in different parts of the country from 2015 to 2021 resulting in over 105,000 cases and caused thousands of deaths.
Hence, the work of preventing and controlling frequent outbreaks is very difficult and needs high cost, Lia said, adding, “Therefore, the government is doing extensive work with partners, stakeholders and development organizations to reduce the disease exposure of the community.”
Again, “the Ethiopian government officially launched its National Cholera Elimination Plan (NCP) at the GTFCC side event on the 75th World Health Assembly which was held in Geneva, Switzerland on May, 2022. This plan is a testament to the Government of Ethiopia’s commitment towards a multi-sectorial approach for reducing 90% of Cholera deaths by the year 2030. We are now here to advocate and discuss the implementation of this National Plan,” the minister elaborated.
This is why Ethiopia aims to eliminate cholera by 2028 while the world health assembly is set to eliminate cholera by 2030.
Responding, the World Health Organization representative, Paul Mainuka, stressed that cholera remains a major health threat worldwide.
He stressed that the burden and impact of cholera pandemic is greatest in the African region where it is endemic in many counties, with case fatality rates that exceed the global average of 1 percent.
Accordingly, he emphasised that, “The National Cholera Elimination Plan (NCP) implementation plan will be practical framework that will guide implementation of each of the activities in the NCP to reduce cholera transmission to zero and achieve 90 percent reduction by 2028.”
As a matter of fact, an estimate of close to 400 million USD is said to be required for implementing the plan.
